Decoder with Nilay Patel Recode Decode: Niall Ferguson
Apr 8, 2020
In this conversation, historian Niall Ferguson, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and author of acclaimed works like The Ascent of Money, shares insights on his PBS series, Networld. He emphasizes the power of networks in shaping revolutions and the alarming spread of misinformation during crises like the pandemic. Ferguson critiques Silicon Valley's surveillance practices, warning that the U.S. is edging closer to a model akin to China's. He discusses how modern social networks can both connect and divide us, stressing the need for better regulatory frameworks.
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Episode notes
Networked Crises
- Both health and financial crises are network problems.
- Understanding how networks function is crucial, especially now with the pandemic and economic fallout.
Natural Networks
- Social networks, existing since pre-human times, are how we naturally organize.
- Networks are key to understanding how viruses or ideas spread from person to person.
Witch Hunt Contagion
- The spread of the witch hunt craze in early Europe demonstrates how bad ideas can also go viral through networks.
- This craze, fueled by the printing press and influential figures like Martin Luther, led to the persecution of thousands.
